Liquid container equipped with drinking cups

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a container (e.g., a bottle) for holding liquid therein. More particularly, the container includes a body having upper and lower ends and a recessed storage compartment formed in the lower end. The container also includes a plurality of cups removably positioned in the storage compartment. The storage compartment extends upwardly from the lower end toward the upper end of the body such that the storage compartment is recessed into the body. The storage compartment is sized and shaped such that the cups are housed completely within the storage compartment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to liquid containers and, more particularly, to a liquid container equipped with at least one drinking cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Liquid bottles are often used with one or more drinking cups when consumed by more than one person. In such circumstances, it would be desirable to provide liquid bottles equipped with drinking cups.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container (e.g., a bottle) for holding liquid. More particularly, the container includes a body having upper and lower ends and a recessed storage compartment formed in the lower end. The container also includes at least one cup removably positioned in the storage compartment. The storage compartment extends upwardly from the lower end toward the upper end of the body such that the storage compartment is recessed into the body. The storage compartment is sized and shaped such that the at least one cup is housed completely within the storage compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a liquid container constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid container being equipped with a plurality of drinking cups;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section line 2-2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, of the liquid container shown in FIG. 1, the cups being shown detached from the liquid container;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the liquid container shown in FIG. 2, illustrating a process for removing one of the cups from the liquid container; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the liquid container shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a bottle 10 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The bottle 10 is sized and shaped to contain water or other consumable liquids therein. The bottle 10 has an upper portion 12, which is provided with a discharge opening (not shown) sealed by a removable cap 14, and a lower portion 16, which has a bottom surface 18. The lower portion 16 includes a recessed compartment 20 sized and shaped so as to removably receive a plurality of drinking cups 40 therein. The compartment 20 includes a plurality of finger-placement gaps 22, 24 for allowing a user to place his or her fingers in the compartment 20 to retrieve one or more of the cups 40 from the bottle 10. The bottle 10 also includes a peel-off cover 26 removably applied to the bottom surface 18 of the bottle 10 to prevent dust and other particulate matter from entering the compartment 20 and to thereby keep the cups 40 clean.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the compartment 20 extends upwardly from the bottom surface 18 of the lower portion 16 to a compartment ceiling 28. An outer annular wall 30 is provided for laterally defining the compartment 20, while a rim 32 projects radially inwardly from the annular wall 30. The rim 32 is sized and shaped to retain the cups 40 within the compartment 20 in the manner further described below.

The lower portion 16 of the bottle 10 includes a cup-shaped retaining wall 34 depending from the compartment ceiling 28. The retaining wall 34, which includes an inner annular wall 34 a, is positioned substantially coaxially within the outer annular wall 30 so as to form an annular channel 36 within the compartment 20 for receiving the cups 40 for storage purposes. The retaining wail 34 functions to increase the amount of liquid the bottle 10 can hold.

Now referring to FIG. 2, each of the cups 40 has a top end 42 and a bottom end 44. The top end 42 of each of the cups 40 is provided with a lip 46 that protrudes radially outwardly from a corresponding one of the cups 40 and extends around the circumference of the top end 42 thereof for purposes to be discussed below. The cups 40 are also sized and shaped to be stored in the compartment 20 without having the bottom ends 44 of the cups 40 extend beyond the bottom surface 18 of the bottle 10 (i.e., the cups 40 are housed completely within the compartment 20). The cups 40 are sized and shaped so as to be stacked with one another in a nested relationship in order to decrease the amount of space the cups 40 occupy within the compartment 20. The cups 40 can be made from any conventional material, such as plastic, paper or aluminum.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate how the cups 40 are stored in the bottle 10 and removed from same. The cups 40 are secured in the compartment 20 by stacking the cups 40 and inserting them into the annular channel 36 of the compartment 20. Once the cups 40 are properly positioned in the compartment 20, the rim 32 of the outer annular wall 30 engages the lip 46 of the lowermost one of the cups 40, thereby securing the cups 40 within the compartment 20. When a user wishes to remove one of the cups 40 from the bottle 10, the user places his or her fingers into the finger-placement gaps 22, 24, grasps the bottom end 44 of the lowermost cup (labeled as “40 a” in FIG. 3), and pulls the cup 40 a downwardly. As a result, the lip 46 of the cup 40 a is disengaged from the rim 32, thereby allowing same to be released from the compartment 20. The rim 32 retains the rest of the cups 40 in the compartment 20 until the cups 40 are selectively removed from the bottle 10.

It should be appreciated that because the cups 40 are stored within the compartment 20, drinking receptacles are readily available for use with the bottle 10. Moreover, because the compartment 20 is recessed in the lower portion 16 of the bottle 10, the compartment 20 protects the cups 40 from exposure to outside forces that could dent or damage the cups 40. The shape of the compartment 20 allows for the cups 40 to occupy decreased amount of space within the bottle 10, thereby increasing the amount of liquid that can be contained inside the bottle 10. Furthermore, because the cups 40 do not extend beyond the bottom surface 18 of the bottle 10, the bottom surface 18 of the bottle 10 may be covered by the peel-off cover 26 without affecting the ability of the bottle 10 to stand freely.

It should be noted that the bottle 10 can have numerous modifications and variations. For instance, the bottle 10 can be any container suitable for holding liquid, such as a thermos, a jug, a carton, and the like. In addition, the peel-off cover 26 of the bottle 10 may be eliminated completely or replaced with any other suitable means. Furthermore, the retaining wall 34 can be eliminated, while the rim 32 of the annular wall 30 may be removed completely, which would allow for a friction-fit design for securing the cups 40 within the compartment 20. Alternatively, the rim 32 may be replaced with any mechanism for securing the cups 40 within the compartment 20, such as a series of bumps or protrusions.

It will be understood that the embodiment described herein is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications, including those described above, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A container for holding liquid, comprising a body having upper and lower ends and a recessed storage compartment formed in said lower end; and at least one cup removably positioned in said storage compartment.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein said storage compartment extends upwardly from said lower end towards said upper end of said body such that said storage compartment is recessed into said body.
 3. The container of claim 2, wherein said at least one cup includes a plurality of cups; and said storage compartment is sized and shaped such that said cups are housed completely within said storage compartment.
 4. The container of claim 3, wherein said body includes an outer annular wall positioned within said body, said outer annular wall being substantially coaxial relative to said body, said storage compartment being radially defined by said outer annular wall.
 5. The container of claim 4, wherein said body includes a compartment ceiling positioned within said body between said upper and lower ends of said body and defining a top end of said storage compartment.
 6. The container of claim 5, wherein said outer annular wall extends between said lower end of said body and said compartment ceiling.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein said body includes an inner annular wall positioned within said body, said inner annular well being substantially coaxial relative to said outer annular wall and said body, said inner annular wall cooperating with said outer annular wall to form an annular channel for receiving at least portions of said cups.
 8. The container of claim 7, wherein said inner annular wall depends downwardly from said compartment ceiling.
 9. The container of claim 8, further comprising a retaining member for engaging at least one of said cups so as to releasably retain said cups within said storage compartment.
 10. The container of claim 9, wherein each of said cups includes a lip projecting outwardly in a radial direction; and wherein said retaining member includes a rim projecting radially inwardly from said outer annular wall of said body for engaging said lip of at least one of said cups.
 11. The container of claim 10, wherein said storage compartment includes a plurality of gaps in said lower end of said body, each of said gaps being sized and shaped so as to receive a person's finger for facilitating the removal of said cups from said compartment. 